Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has denied allegations of any wrongdoing after a sedition case was registered against its members on Wednesday on charges of raising pro-Pakistan slogans outside a panchayat election counting centre in Ujire in Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka.
SDPI Belthangady assembly unit president Hyder Ali said the activists only raised slogans in support of the party on the victory of candidates supported by it.
A video showing a group of people carrying flags of SDPI and raising the slogans amid the counting centre authorities making announcements regarding the counting of votes related to Mundaje Gram Panchayat in Belthangady Taluk went viral on social media following which police registered the case.
SDPI leader Abrar Ahmed in an interview to a news channel said that his members raised SDPI zindabad slogans and not pro-Pakistan slogans.
Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police B M Laxmi Prasad said in a statement that the police have taken cognizance of the video clipping.
A case was registered against 15 SDPI activists for offences under Sections 124 (A) (sedition) and 143 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code.
Over 5,700 village panchayats in the state went to polls in two phases on December 22 and 27 and the results were announced on Wednesday. SDPI won 224 Seats.
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Rushda Fathima Khan is the Staff Reporter for The Cognate.
